Better Than All The Rest: Sephora Bestsellers

Books! Mascaras! Movies! Lipsticks! I love best sellers.

There's something to be said for products capable of sparking mass adoration and a fawning devotion normally reserved for pets small enough to dress in sweaters. For me, products with strong fan-based following at least merit a one-time trial. I can't help it - I've gotta know what all the fuss is about.

Then there's that moment where you pull out your NARS lip gloss or Aquolina Pink Sugar for a spiff-up, and blurted out from two tables across (or more typically, five stalls down), is an, "OHMYGAWDILOVETHATSTUFF!!!" And just like that, you're bonding over Diorshow.

You can find the top fan favs on our Sephora Best Sellers list. Take a peek and see if your OMGs are on here, too.

And if you so totally already know what's everybody's favorite is, maybe you should put those talents to better use.

Spoiler Alert! Sex and the Pretty...

We've got some BIG news: Last night, thanks to our friends at Stila, we attended a VIP screening and cocktail party for Sex and the City. The star-studded, Cosmo-sipping group was swishilly attired in tiny dresses and spiky "Choos" that could have landed them roles as extras in the movie. And, in the gift bags, we all received Stila Lip Glaze in Grapefruit, a universally flattering glossy pink that is undoubtly a fave of the cast.

So. Let's get to the dirt. The movie was great---extra long (like watching 6 episodes at once!) and spliced with trademark SATC humor, it was like seeing old friends on the big screen. And, we learned some interesting stuff, like BIG's real name and Samantha's real AGE.

But, the million dollar question is do Carrie and BIG actually tie the knot? Now, while we won't tell you straight out, if you really want to know, guess the names of the Stila shades below, and you'll have your answer.


Though the end of the movie was characteristically unconventional, this pretty pink nude shade of Stila Eye Shadow was not tossed.



But this shade of Stila Lip Rouge, a sheer, rich plum, certainly sealed the deal.

BeautyBlitz.com

Viagra brows / (vī ag’rə brouz) / n./ Eyebrows artificially arched with shots of Botox, leading to a long-term medically-induced elevation. “I accidentally over-plucked my arches in my new 5x mirror, and now I look like I have Viagra brows.”

That's the type of tidbit you'll find at BeautyBlitz.com, a new beauty-oriented online magazine that just launched today. Founded by Polly Blitzer, a former women’s magazine editor (we worked together at Marie Claire!), it's the first beauty magazine to be published entirely online. BeautyBlitz gives beauty mavens the latest, up-to-the-minute beauty info, such as free products every single day, celebrity guest editors, direct access to red-carpet beauty experts, and ingenious beautygrams (pictured)! Be quick on the click and check out the beauty bombardment now. Incoming! — Michelle Zaffino

Stylista: Our Future Obsession

Non-Sequitur Post Disclaimer: This has nothing to do with products, nothing to do with trends and nothing to do with beauty in general. But it is quickly going to be an absolute obsession, so it must be mentioned.**

Oh Em Eff Gee. Have you seen the promos for the newest fake-ality show Stylista? It's being tagged as The Devil Wears Prada meets reality. I don't know how many contestants vie for the chance at an assistant position at Elle plus a paid lease in Manhattan (gasp!) aaaaand (are you ready for this?) a clothing allowance worth 100 Grand at H&M. It doesn't debut until the fall, but I already know I'm going to be obsessing over the clothes, quips and, of course, ability to achieve or not achieve messy up dos of all of the contestants. Why can't it be autumn already? Or why can't they leak more promos online? Perez, are you listening?

**This of course is solely the humble opinion of Jenna, the girl publicly admitted to the mortal sin of not watching GG.

- Jenna Mahoney

Heavy Lifting

The other night's newest "Is this safe for you?" report was all about the plumping power of Botox. But before you get all "der, hickey, Jenna, why are wasting my time while I'm wasting time?" I've got to say it is a new kind of lift—a chest one. Yep. That's right. Top docs and Park Ave derms are now using the wrinkle filler to make the girls a little perk.

According to the news report Dr. Patricia Wexler said: Botox is about a yin and yang of muscle movement. If you weaken a muscle that's pulling something down, the muscle which is pulling up has nothing to oppose it. So if you weaken the pectoralis minor muscle, which is pulling the breast down, the rhomboid muscle in the back is going to have nothing to oppose it, so it's actually going to pull up your back and give you better posture and actually lift your breasts up.

The effect is relatively temporary (10-12 weeks), but it is non-invasive and the price is a fraction-o-la of a traditional breast lift. It sound like a decent option to me, but since I'm deathly afraid of needles, I guess I'll have to stick to the Pilates.

- Jenna Mahoney

PRETTY POETRY: An Ode to a Messy Updo

Our resident Shakespeare Jenna Mahoney waxes poetic on her inability to achieve messy perfection. Memorize it for the next time you're faced with a hair "challenge."

Oh, messy updo, messy updo, why doth forsake me?
Thou sweet tendril curls, thine fantastic bit of shine,
Thou just-so skew, I beseech thee to be mine.
Instead doth reside on carpets of red
And ne'er grace thy self upon my head.
No matter how many pins and sprays I apply,
Thine supple, soft body and glorious texture evermore pass me by.
And so I wait and pine some more To forever chase thy divine adore.

Blue Crushing: The East Coast Edition

Unlike the Cali crew here at Beauty & The Blog, I didn't grow up with groms and blondes. My upbringing was equally beachy but more in a topsiders and madras kind of way. But something happened on the way to the next century. I joined the thousands of women inspired by a small movie to get all Gidget. And as I patiently wait for the east coast waves and water temps to be even minorly ride-able, I've been trolling the store to get my beach bag ready to go. - Jenna Mahoney

Bliss FatGirlSlim
Fact: Surfer girls don't have cellulite. So, if I'm going to hang ten (as if) with the ladies, I've got to fight the sag. Of all the concoctions I've tried, this one's texture and scent make rubbing away the flab a little more fun.

Shiseido Ultimate Sun Protection Cream SPF 55
There's a reason why the name of this stuff includes the word "ultimate." The formula offers a load of full-spectrum protection, it's easily absorbed and it keeps fighting the good fight after a serious sesh of water time due to all those wipeouts.

Lavanila PureVanilla Eau De Parfum Rollerball
There's something about being at the beach, that makes me get all get-back-to-the-earth like. And nothing says, "I love being a natural beauty" like the sweet scent of vanilla. The roll-on applicator insures that my fragrance goes where I want it and not where I don't, like the inside of my bag.

MD Skincare Powerful Sun Protection SPF 25 Lip Balm
It is pretty difficult to find an ultra-moisturizing lip protector packed with a high-level of SPF. In addition to shielding the sun, this promises to gently exfoliate and plump up collagen production.

Sephora Brand Snag-Free Hair Elastics
As if all of that wiping out weren't enough, trying to keep my hair out of my face while I'm actually riding a wave can be a serious feat. Keep a bunch of these in my secret wetsuit pocket will be a major help. Now if perfecting the pop-up were so easy….

A Scents Of Style

I'm recruiting partners for the high crime of stealing another person’s great idea.

What we’re lifting: Gorgeous perfume bottles re-purposed as single bloom or bud vases.

I freely admit to occasionally buying a bottle of perfume not really for the fragrance, but more for the vessel (I’m not the only one, right? Right??). Some of these glittery glass works are too pretty to put away - ever. But when the glass is no longer even half full, you’ve got a sad little empty sitting purposeless amidst those other scentsible but less pretty replacements.

Unless, of course, you say, "Recycle me!” with flowers.

Here’s what I’d get just for the glass:

Classique by Jean Paul Gaultier

L de Lolita Lempicka

Young Sexy Lovely Collector Edition by Yves Saint Laurent

Now find a blown glass beauty of your own!

A Tax For Beautiful People?

Some dude in Argentina, Brazil's neighbor to the south with arguably an equal amount of drop-dead natural gorg. specimens of humanity, has proposed taxing the beautiful. Yes. You read that correctly. Author Gonzalo Otólora says that since pretty people have it easier—getting jobs, finding partners and even scoring higher pay—they should have to pay a premium for those little life shortcuts. He says that evening the playing filed will create the notion of a true democracy. All I can say is: What do you beauty babes think? - Jenna Mahoney

Here's a clip from an interview with Otolora in Ode Magazine:

ODE: How can we blame people because others consider them hot?

Otolora: "Why not? If they spend money on diets, gyms, anti-wrinkle creams and plastic surgery, surely we can wheedle even more money out of them and donate it to the ugly among us. We, the unattractive, won't squander that money because we're not compulsive consumers. We're not worried about failure because we've learned from all the rejections we've suffered. As a result, we're well- suited to think strategically and reach our objectives quickly. Our relationships with people are more honest and durable. Society ultimately benefits from these qualities, which is why ugly people should be recognized, emancipated and supported."

The Naked Vacation: Beauty Tips for Basking in the Buff

The New York Times had a fabulously informative article on how to vacation naked. Naked!! First thing you should know is that the word “nudist” is vulgar - that's “naturist” to you clothing-needy types.

The article listed out several free-range-epidermis vacays that sounded fun. Sun? Cruises? Buffets? Contact sports? Eww - scratch that last one.

But I think there was a typo. The writer noted that vacationers could really pack light. Pack light?? Obviously that writer is no true naturist!

At minimum, being naked requires:

Bliss FatGirlSlim
I don’t know about you gals, but even naked I’m always wearing my “cellulite knickers.” In fact, I’d take two jars of this.

Bliss Love Handler
How can a naked girl enjoy the all-you-can-eat buffets without this? It’s elastic waist pants for the clothing-optional crowd.

Clarins Self Tanning Instant Gel
I don’t have to explain the critical importance of bronzer on parts of skin that haven’t EVER seen sunlight, do I?

Sephora Sun Safety Kit
I introduced myself as a pasty-facer, which means when I’m outdoors, even my hair is SPF 30.

Too Faced Decade of Glamour Beauty Wardrobe Makeup Collection
I’m being honest here, but just because I’m stark raving madly naked from the neck down still doesn’t mean I’m ever leaving the house with no makeup on.

Heather Has a New Mommy

Everyone on the world wide interweb, from the usual suspects (Bella and Jezebel), to the not so-oft thought beauty sources like Perez and Newsweek is talking about this brand new picture book , My Beautiful Mommy. Written by a cosmetic derm from Fla, the pink bound tome is meant to helps kids cope with parents getting plastic surgery. Now, I know I'm going to hear about this from the decency police on this, but I think it makes sense to have such a little story. How else can small children cope/learn about such drastic physical changes in their parents? (Granted this one only talks about a tummy tuck, not the nose and boob job the mom depicted also gets.) Children's books have a long history of explaining important stuff in simple allegorical terms. So if this is necessary (which I'm pretty sure it is in some homes) then I support it. Now, if someone could just figure out how to teach adults about self-love and acceptance, we'd certainly be living in a better place. - Jenna Mahoney

Fingered! The Fluorescent Manicure

Time for your next mani? Ask for neon.

According to trendcentral, retina-searing shades were spotted on every hipster fingernail at Coachella last weekend. For the unfamiliar, this desert-scene indie music fest is a veritable hotbed (Oh ha! Ladies & germs, I’m here all week!) of new trends.

Brilliantly lame jokes aside, I've been waiting since Thriller came out the first time for neon to come back - along with, apparently, 2 out of 3 Glamour staffers.

I say, break out your “Electric Youth” mix tape and grab a bottle of your favorite BRITE LITE:

Sephora Brand Nail Polish in Orange #60 or Turquoise Blue #55



Sephora Lacquer Nail Polish in Myrtille (a bright, deep blue) or Mangue (vibrant orange)


BONUS ROUND: Are you brave? Then pair up you fingers with Make Up Forever Lipstick in Fluorescent Orange Pink.

ICKY sidenote: Fluorescents weren’t the only thing spotted at Coachella. I regretfully inform readers that fanny packs (please forgive me for typing that, Karl Lagerfeld) also made what I hope is a first and final appearance.

Tip Trick: Making Natural Cosmetics Last

You sprang for a jar of pure organic face cream that makes you glow just reading its au naturale list of ingredients. Better start slathering, though: once opened, organic products have a short n’ sweet shelf life. Like, weeks.

Want to make it last longer? Keep it in the fridge. Yes, really.

This is courtesy of the The Beauty Brains which points out many of the boo! things about going organic in the makeup cabinet. For example, products often cost more to make, and (this is a shocker), many of Mother Nature’s own ingredients aren’t actually approved for mass consumption. Step on it, FDA!

Keep those potions in the fridge, though, and you’re stretching the life of your cosmetic goodies.

Yes, it’s weird to march into the kitchen every morning to put on your face. And your roommate is going to ask you 47 times, “Why is there face cream next to my Easy Cheese?” before getting used to it.

But treat your natural products the way you would any other organic product. After all, as The Beauty Brains points out, “You wouldn’t eat fish you left on the counter overnight, so don’t use unrefrigerated natural cosmetics, either.”

Lovely visual, isn’t it?

Pan Stick Gone Wrong: Criminally Ugly Makeup

If you’re reading a blog about makeup, chances are you already know the basics of foundation. I bet we share the same rules:

1. Your face shouldn’t be a different color than your neck

2. You should not be able to spackle walls, putty tiles, or caulk a tub with your foundation

3. Unless you’re dressed in a sequined costume, standing to the left of stage and waiting for your cue, your foundation doesn’t need to stand up to stage lights

Not following makeup application rules can have hideous results. Say, for example, you rob a bank in Salem, Oregon and are caught on film with really bad makeup. So embarrassing! Because then not only would you be on the lam, but you’d be nationally identified as “that suspect with really bad makeup.”

Kind of makes you want to check your face in natural light, doesn’t it?

Photo credit: thelostandprofound.com

Gonna Party Like It’s 1992

The style report on trendcentral has declared a new trend: The 90s are back.

Phat!

This is major news for all the girls (mememe!) who spent 1994 in baggy “boyfriend” jeans, refused to pluck bushy eyebrows, and lived in Clinique’s Rum Raisin lipstick. And, of course, never left home without a scrunchie....

The article points to some very specific 90s trends, but I’m taking this a step deeper: I’m going to tell you which modern makeup match will let you relive the 90s - without actually having to grow out your brows:

Totally 90's: Flower Prints
To Donna Martin, Brenda Walsh, Kelly Taylor, and the entire collection of hats that appeared in every episode of Blossom, we salute you.

Modern Match: Cargo’s PlantLove™ Botanical Lipstick
The packaging isn’t the only thing infused with flowers (literally! Plant the box and sprout a fleur-ty bouquet). These hothouse hues are crafted with Cargo’s own natural Orchid Complex.

Totally 90's: Color Changing Fabric
The best part about wearing those Hypercolor tank tops was letting the hot boy in Homeroom leave his heated handprint on your back.

Modern Match: Smashbox’s O-Gloss
This intuitive lip gloss is nothing like the mood lipsticks of 1991 (why did they always turn hot pink?). Thanks to the marvels of modern chemistry, this gloss actually reacts to your individual skin chemistry for the right rosy flush that’s perfect on you.

Totally 90's: Manic Panic Hair Dye
What Mother Nature herself didn’t produce, Manic Panic took care of in shades like Electric Banana, Atomic Turquoise, and Vampire Red.

Modern Match: Make Up For Ever’s Flash Color
The names are a bit more subtle (gentle-sounding Gold, Violet, and Wine), but the colors certainly aren’t. These high-watt shadows stay bold and stay put all day. ROY G BIV couldn’t have done a better job.

Photo credit: Novelty-t-shirts.net

What Would Beauty Do?

Sure, we're deeply religious when it comes to our hair gods—thou shall convert to ghd's thermodynamics line!—but not sure we'd go this far ... Thoughts? —Jessica Anderson, Sephora

Paint The Town Red Velvet

Too Faced dolled out those delicious (and oh so trendy) Red Velvet cupcakes yesterday ... here's hoping January 8 wasn't too soon to break the less-sugar resolution. 0:) Eh, if so, Philosophy's Red Velvet Cake is a fancier, healthier route going forward anyway. A 3-in-1 shampoo, shower gel, and bubble bath, it's bubbling with the same super-sweet sensations those little butter cream pastries are—just, you know, sans the calories and failed-resolution shame. Bon appetit. —Jessica Anderson, Sephora

Acrylic Art

Hey look, apparently press-on nails aren't limited to big-haired waitresses from Staten Island! (Jokes, jokes. All love here.) This Chinese manicurist used 28,000 eye-catching acrylics to create a mosaic for the 2008 Olympics. Now that's art. Let's just hope a strong wind doesn't derail (or, uh, de-nail) the whole thing. —Jessica Anderson, Sephora

Color Me Pretty

Now this is awesome: Philips designed a new dress that literally changes color depending on your mood! It reads your body temperature and perspiration levels, and responds accordingly with a just-for-you hue. (Is that how those frilly fairies in Sleeping Beauty did it?) But even better, the techy gown has a beauty soul-mate now, too: Too Faced's new Mood Swing gloss similarly changes your lip color, all based on your body temp, ph balance, and mood. It starts off crystal clear, but can morph into anything from pink to a deep purple, depending on how lovely or lippy you're being. Brings a whole new meaning to the heart-on-your-sleeve concept, doesn't it? —Jessica Anderson, Sephora
*image courtesy of Philips

Just Another Pretty Face?

We talk a lot about getting that pretty face ... but here's a mind-boggling angle. A disease called face blindness, which is unrelated to sight, can actually cause an inability to recognize faces. In extreme cases, it includes the faces of family, close friends, loved ones, and themselves. It’s proper name is Prosopagnosia and is only more recently being understood and documented. Fortunately, it’s very rare, but can be devastating. Think about it. Social interaction is based on recognizing familiar faces. Our faces are the single most recognizable part of our bodies—they define our very unique identity. (That's mine, shattered with Photoshop!) How would it feel to never recognize someone who lives next door, or has delivered your paper or bagged your groceries for years? We all go to varying lengths to maintain our face, either through routine (me, it's shaving every other day), or with color and makeup. But take a deeper look—test how well you can recognize faces. —Cade Peterson, Sephora